Bowling game



July 16, 1946. w. w; KOTTAS BOWLING GAME Filed Aug. 4, 1945 4 Sheets-Shget 1 I WITNEISSES:

y16, 1946. w. w. KOTTAS 2 404,296

BOWLING GAME 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTO WW/Em Q 6 I 3'Y W, W I is, ATTORNEYS.

Filed Aug. 4, 1945 WITNESSES: 1 4, Ad m QM W. W. KOTTAS BOWLING GAME July 16, 1946 Filed Aug. 4, 1945 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR w b/ 1 Me ia-4 I k .ATTORNEY July 16, 1946. w. w. KOTTAS BOWLING GAME Filed Aug. 4, 1945 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVE TOR ATTORNEYS WITNESSES: 7/ 4, MM O.

Patented July 16, 1946 Walter W. Kottas, New l iensington, Pa.

Application August 4, 1945, Serial No. 608,860

Claims. (01. 273-40) This invention relates to simulated bowling games, and more particularly to a portable bowling game adapted to be played in a home or the like, or outdoors.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a game closely resembling bowling which is simple but interesting, which can be played in limited space, which is readily portable, which is inexpensive, in which the pins can be reset. by-

the players from a distant playing position, and in which the players control return of the ball without moving out of playing position.

In accordance with this invention a rack is pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to a portable base adapted to be set on the floor or on the ground. An arm is operatively connected to the rack from which it projects rearwardly. A line, connectedto the rear end of the arm, extends forward above the rack with its front end adapted to be held by a. player. .A ball is suspended from the line along which it is movable by gravity in either direction, depending upon the relative heights of the opposite ends of the line. A plurality of pins are loosely anchored to the rack in such a manner that they can be knocked down by the ball as it travels over the rack. Preferably, the pins are mounted on the upper ends of upright members which are movable downwardly in the rack when the pins are struck by the ball. The position of the line transversely of the rack may be controlled by the tension on the line. arm upwardly so that the ball will travel back to the player. When the tension is increased still further the arm tilts the pivotally mounted ra'ck suificiently to cause the'pin-supporting members to move back to their original position and thus reset the pins.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of .my bowling game with a man playing it; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the game; .Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2 but showing two of the pins knocked down; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 3, but showing the rack tilted far enough to have reset the pins.

Referring to the drawings, a heavy sheet metal base I has an inclined front wall and side walls that diverge downwardly somewhat. 'The top.

and bottom and back of the base-are open. Piv-. otally connected to the back part of the base is a rack having parallel vertical side panels 2. The lower ends of the panels are connected by a tie rod 3, while their upper ends have forwardly pro! Higher tension swings the rear end of the jecting lugs 4 that are attached to the upper rear top plate the rod is bent to form a horizontal corners of the base by horizontal. pivot pins 5 so that the side panels can be swungfupwardly when desired. The rest of the rack consists of a pair of vertically spaced horizontal plates 1 and 8 which ar rigidly connected by vertical side plates 9 (Fig. 3) secured to panels 2 some'distance below their tops. The horizontal plates extend fromthe back of the side panels forward into the baseout of which they swing-when the rack is tilted.

As shown in Fig. 2, the top plate 1 of the rack is provided with ten staggered slots H arranged in the. pattern formed by ten-pins 'set up in a bowling alley. Each of these slots has straight parallel side walls and a forwardly tapered front wall thatform's. a point on the front end of the 1 slot. Directly below the point of each slot there is an enlarged opening 12 (Fig; 3) through the bottom plate of the rack. A vertical rod 13 extends through each of these openings and up through the point of the slot above it. Above the shoulder l4 thatnormally rests on the plate in front of the slot. To keep the shoulder directed forward, the rod beneath the bottom plate is bent forward and then upwardly to form an upwardly extending section It that extends loosely through another enlarged opening ll in the bottom plate. Theupper end of this section of the rod is bent at-right angles to limit downward movement of the rod in the rack. When shoulders [4 are resting on the top plate, all of the rods extend above the rack. Bowling pins l8 are rigidly mounted on the upper ends of the rods above the base. It will be seen that if any pin is struck hard enough from the front, the shoulder M of its supporting rod will be knocked back off top plate I and into the associated slot H, and the rod will then slide down through both plates so that the pin carried by it will drop down below the other pins, as shown in Fig.3. Due to the length and width of the'slots and to their tapered front ends, a pin also can strike other pins as it is knocked back in the rack by a direct hit or a glancing blow. I

Projecting rearwardly from the base and rack is an arm Zllformed from parallel side members that extend horizontally away from the base for a ways and then are curved upwardly with their rear ends integrally connected by a cross member 2i. The side members have front and rear sections, the front ends of the rear sections 24 being removably mounted in sockets 23 formed in theqrear ends of the .frontsections 22, The

zontal position by links 21 the lower ends of which project into slots in the arm sockets where they are retained by pivot pins 28. The upper ends of the links are connected by pivot pins 29 to the upper, rear corners of the side members of I the rack directly in back of pivots 5.

As shown inFig. 1, a flexible line 3|, such as a nomes wire or a strong cord, is connected to the rear end of the arm and extends forwardly above the pin rack to a player. The front end of the line may carry a finger ring 32 by which it can be drawn taut. A two-wheel trolley 33 is mounted on the line and has a depending member 34 from which a bowling ball 35 is suspended. By holding the front end of the line higher thanits rear end, the trolley will roll down the line and, by prop-;

pins as it passes over the rack;

to oneside of the arm and extends inwardly along cross member 2!, and through a curved passage 31in a'positioning block-3'8 slidably mounted on thecrossmember, as shown in Fig. 2; The ends of this passage are at one side of the block and at thefront'of it, and the line is slidable through the; passage. The position of the block transversely of the arm determines the lateral position of the rearend of the line relative to the arm and rack. The block is biased toward the side of the arm opposite to the side to which the line is attached. This may be accomplished by'providing the lower portion of the block with a curved passage'the ends of which are located at the'bottom of the block and at the side opposite passage 31. A wirev or strong cord fig'attached to the side of the arm extends through this passage and carries a weight til below the block. The weight tends. to cause the cordto move the block toward one side of the j ar'm,but'when lines [is pulled it moves the block 7 toward the opposite side of the arm. Therefore;

the lateral position of the rear end of the line can be controlled by the tension on the line." In Fig. 2 the tension on the line is just suflicient to move block 38 to the center of cross member 2 I.

'In playing this game a'player stands the proper distance in front of base I and picks up the ring 312 on the free end of line 31. At the same time he hooks one finger around member '34 of the balltrolley.' He then pulls the line taut and holds it at a heignt that will assure the ball striking the pinsas the trolley passes over them. The player pulls the line hard enough to move positioning block 38 to the desired osition along cross member 2i, so that the line will extend over the pin that the player wishes the ball to strike first. As soon as the ball has been aimed, itis released and is carried by the trolley down the inclined line and across the pin rack where it knocks down one orfmore pins. Referring to Fig. 3, a front and a rear pin have been struck, and the shoulder [4 of:

their supporting rods 13 have been knocked back off top .plate 1 so that the two rods and pins have droppeddown in the rack, leaving the rest of the pins standing for the players second try.

The player then pulls on the line tomove positioning block 38 against the side of thearm to which the line. is fastened. Continued pullfon the line swings the arm upwardly to the broken line position shown in Fig. 1 until the line is well erlygpos' ioning theline, the ball will strike the The rear end of the line preferably is connected meantime. Consequently, the ball trolley rolls back to the player who holds the ball and then allows the arm to return to its original position in readiness for the second ball. When the arm is swung upwardly. to merely return the ball, links 27 cause the pin rack to swing on pivots 5, but

the arm is not moved far enough to tilt the rack to the point where the knocked-down pins will re- 7 set themselves.

On the other hand, after a player has'made a strike or has twice rolled the ball down line'3l toward the pins, he pulls on the line more strongly than before so as to raise the arm high enough to tilt-the rack nearly bottom-side-up, as shown in t Fig. 4.. As the rack starts to turn over, the weight of the pins causes rods l3 to slide down through rack plates '1 and 8 until their shoulders l4 again hook over top plate 1 at the front ends of slots 1 I. Tension on, the line then is reduced to permit the arm to swing the rack back to its original position with the pins projecting above the base ready to about 135". The reason for this lies in the links 27 and the relative positions of pivots 5, 25, '28, and 29. To prevent a player from accidentally pullingthe arm so far that it will fall forward, stops are provided that limit the forward travel of'the arm. Thus, the sides of the base are notched at their upper edges to provide lugs M that are bent outwardly-into the path of side panels "2. As

7 shownFin Fig.4, the side panels 2 W111 trike above base I, and its rear end is higher than the playerfs hand which has been lowered in the against these lugs and prevent the arm from swinging farther forward.

In playing this game it is unnecessary for the players to approach the pins, because all operatiOIISfZJG'COIltIOllfi-ld from a distance byvarying the tension on line'3l,

Accordin to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated. and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within thescope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise thanas specifically illustrated and described. j

I claim:

1. A bowling game comprising abase, a rack, means pivotally connecting therack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rackto be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a'line con:

nected to the 'rear end of the arm and extending forward above the rack with its front end adapted to be held by a layer, a ball suspended from the line and movable bygravity along it, and a plurality of pins loosely anchored to the rack and adapted to be knocked down by said ball, extra pull "on the front end of the line serving to lift the rear end of said arm for returning said ball to the player and'for'tilting therack to reset the'pins. v v

2. A bowling "game comprising a base; a rack. means pivotally connecting the rack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack to be tilted, an arm pivotedto the side of the base below said axis and projecting rearwardly from the base, alink pivotally connected to the arm and to the upper part of the rack behind, saidaxis, a line-connected-to'the rear end or the arm and extending forward above therack with its turning said ball to the player and for tiltin "the rack to reset the pins.

3.A bowling game comprising a base,-a" rack, means pivotally connecting the, rack'tothe base on a horizontal axis to permit the rrack'to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a line connected to the rear end of the arm and extending forward above the'rack with-its frontend adapted to be held by a player, a trolley mounted on the line for rolling along it when the line is inclined, a ball suspended from the trolley, and a plurality of pins loosely anchored to the rack and adapted to be knocked down by said ball, extra pull on the front end of the line serving to lift the rear end of said arm for returning said trolley to the player and for tilting the rack to reset the pins.

4. A bowling game comprising a base, a rack, means pivotally connecting the rack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to'the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a line connected to the rear end of the arm and extending forward above the rack with its front end cause said upright members to return by gravity to their original position in the rack.

7. A bowling game comprising a base, a rack, means pivotally connecting the rack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a line connected to the rear end of the arm and extending forward above the rack'with its front end adapted to be held by a player, a ball suspended from the line and movable bygravity along it, said rack having vertically spaced plates the upper one of which is provided with a plurality of slots. the lower plate being provided with openings, a vertical rod extending through each slot and at least one of said openings below it, said rod extending above .the upper plate and having a shoulder normally resting thereon in front of said slot, and

' a pin mounted on the upper end of each of said pull on the front end of the lin serving to lift the rear end of said arm for returning said ball to the player and for tilting the rack to reset the pins.

5. A bowling game comprising a base, a rack, means pivotally connecting the rack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a positioning member slidably mounted on the rear end of the arm for movement laterally across it, means urging said member towards one side of the arm, a line anchored to the opposite side of the arm and slidably connected to said member from which it extends forward above the rack with its front end adapted to be held 'by a player, light pull on the line serving to slide said positioning member toward said opposite side of the arm,

a ball suspended from the line and movable by gravity along it, and a plurality of pins loosely anchored to the rack and adapted to beknocked down by said ball, heavy pull on the front end of the line serving to lift the rear end of said arm for returning said ball to the player and for tilting the rack to reset the pins.

6. A bowling game comprising a base, a rack, means pivotally connecting the rack to'the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack-to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a line connected to the rear end of the arm and extendin forward above the rack with its front end adapted to be held by a player, a ball suspended from the line and movable by gravity along it, a plurality of upright members carried by the rack rods, said shoulders being adapted to be knocked back off said upper plate and into said slots when the pins are struck by said ball, whereby said rods drop down in said rack plates, extra pull on the front end of the line serving to lift the rear end of said arm for returning said ball to the player and for tilting the rack to cause said rods to slide back to their original position with their shoulders hooked over said upper rack plate.

8. A bowling game comprising a base, a rack, means pivotally connecting the rack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a line connected to the rear end of the arm andextending forward above the rack with its front end adapted to be held by a player, a ballsuspended from the line and movable by gravity along it, said rack having vertically spaced plates the upper one of which is provided with a plurality of slots, the lower plate being provided with a pair of openings below each slot, a vertical rod extending through each slot and having its lower portion bent upwardly to form two sections slidably mounted in the pair of openings beneath said slot, said rod extending above the upper plate and being bent to form a shoulder normally resting thereon in front of said slot, and a pin mounted on the upper end of each of said rods, said shoulders being adapted to be knocked back off said upper plate and into said slots when the pins are struck by said ball, whereby said rods drop down in said rack plates, extra pull on the front end of the line serving to lift the rear end of said arm for returning said ball to the player and for tilting the rack to cause said rods to slide back to their original position with their shoulders hooked over said upper rack plate.

9. A bowling game comprising a base, a rack, I

means pivotally connecting the rack to the base on a horizontal axis to permit the rack to be tilted, an arm operatively connected to the rack and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a line connected to the rear end of the arm and extending forward above the rack with its front end adapted to be held by a player, a ball suspended from the line and movable by gravity along it, said rack having vertically spaced plate 'the'upper one of which is provided with a plurality of slots each i of said slotsrhaving substantially parallel ide walls with a forwardly tapered frontwall,

lower plate being provided with openings, a ven tioal rod extending through each slot andat 163 5]; 7 one "Of said ope i s, be ow. i said, rod ext ndin above the upper plate and having a shoulder nor;-

mally resting thereon in fi qnt of said lot, and a i un edpntli pper ens! oie c fif v aid rods, said shoulders be n adapted t9 e knoe e back off said upperplate and intosaid slot when the pins are struck 15y said ball, whereby said rods drop 'down in aid rack plates, extra pull on the 1 front end of the line serving to lift the rear end of said, armfor returning said ball tonth e player and for tilting the rack to cause said rods to slide back to their original position'with their shoulders hooked over said upper rack plate.

10. -A bowling game Comprising a base, a rack,

means pivotally connecting the rack to the upper portion of the base on; a horizontal; axis tunermitithe rackxtoi be tilted, an armpivotedto oppo, site sides ofgthe base vbelo'w. and in front of said axis; said arm. projecting irearwardly tram; the

lbase,.a.:1ink pivotally connected-at its upper'end to the rack behimsaid axis; means pivotally .coni nefcting the; I lowernend. of the link to the arm below and behind said axis, a line connected-t0 theireanend of the arm-and extending forward arm upwardly, whereby, saidlinks swing the rack towardqupside down position to cause said pins to reset. themselves by gravity V V i 

